X-Men '97 Perfectly Proved Why a Marvel Villain Needs to Be in the MCU 8 Months Ago

In March 2024, Marvel Animation's X-Men '97 The revival series proved that an unusual villain from Marvel Comics' X-Men would be perfect for the MCU. While Marvel Studios is actively developing a new live-action X-Men reboot for the MCU, the iconic mutant superhero team and some of its most formidable villains have also recently found major success in animation. X-Men '97 brought back the starting lineup X-Men: The Animated Seriesand marked the return of a strange villain who could be perfect for a live-action adaptation of the MCU.

X-Men '97 saw the likes of Mister Sinister, the Sentinels, Henry Peter Gyrich, and the Friends of Humanity return from X-Men: The Animated Seriescontinuing to pose a significant threat to the X-Men team. Marvel Animation's rebirth also marked the return of one of X-Men: The Animated Series' more unusual villains, however, that perhaps no one expected to return. Although this inclusion was unexpected, X-Men '97 actually proved that this strange supervillain would be perfect for the MCU, and recent Marvel Comics stories support that idea.

X-Men '97 reintroduced Mojo to the X-Men and showcased his unique villain appeal

Mojo is one of the strangest villains in Marvel's X-Men

X-Men '97 Episode 4, “Motendo”, saw Jubilee celebrating her 18th birthday with new X-Men recruit Sunspot, who finds himself trapped in a video game comprised of some of the X-Men's greatest hits and overseen by Mojo. Mojo previously appeared in X-Men: The Animated Series Season 2, Episode 11, “Mojovision”, and Season 3, Episode 10, “Longshot”, in 1994 and 1996, respectively, and has always been portrayed as one of the X-Men's strangest villains. Few expected Mojo to return to wreak havoc on X-Men '97and many may have forgotten that he did it.

Mojo, a member of Marvel Comics' Spineless Ones, is a slave trader and a parody of the network executives that rule the Mojoverse, a dimension where everyone is addicted to Mojo's gladiator shows. Mojo is a vibrant, charismatic, fun, and absurd villain who benefited the Jubilee-centric episode in X-Men '97and could have the same impact on the MCU's live-action X-Men team. Contrary to what his appearance suggests, Mojo is an incredibly powerful and influential villain, and has only become more formidable in recent events in Marvel Comics.

The MCU could benefit hugely from Mojo's appearance alongside the franchise's new X-Men

Mojo would surprisingly be the perfect MCU X-Men villain

Marvel Studios is gearing up to introduce a new iteration of the X-Men team into the MCU, with Marvel boss Kevin Feige recently teasing some recognizable mutants who will appear in future projects and a “New Age of Mutants” occurring after 2027 Avengers: Secret Wars. The MCU's X-Men will certainly face some of their most powerful adversaries from Marvel Comics, and hot on the heels of the Multiverse Saga, Mojo would be a fantastic candidate. Mojo's command and influence over another dimension make him the perfect villain for the MCU's X-Men team..

Including Mojo in the next X-Men projects would allow a familiar face to help bring the X-Men into the MCU, as many will know him from X-Men: The Animated Series and X-Men '97. Mojo could also help establish a fun, lighthearted, and colorful new chapter for the live-action X-Men.as he's a fantastic, strange villain who directly opposes the darker, grittier way 20th Century Fox has handled their own mutants. After recent developments in Marvel Comics, Mojo would be the perfect villain for the MCU's X-Men.

Mojo's Huge Comic Power Upgrade Further Highlights Marvel Villain's Potential

Marvel Comics recently gave Mojo a major power upgrade

recent Marvel Comics NYX #6, released in early December 2024, it gave Mojo a significant power upgrade that could have perfectly prepared the iconic and unusual villain for a career in the MCU. Mojo gained the ability to possess the minds of those who watched his broadcasts, greatly increasing his strength and influence and making him a truly terrifying threat.. This kind of upgrade means Mojo could be even more powerful in the MCU after his somewhat lackluster return in X-Men '97So the MCU's X-Men team shouldn't underestimate the shocking villain.

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